This is an already known confluence, near to Pirenópolis. On April 4th of 2001, we tried to arrive there, but we were won. Since then, this confluence has been bothering the Walking Group. Due to the obstacles (dense wood, lots of insects, snakes and accidental relief), we have affectionately given this confluence the name of Confounded Confluence.

After several postponements, we finally decided to go on June 1st of 2001.
After the traditional lateness in the group, we arrived at Pirenópolis at almost 11:10AM. We had gotten on the road that passes behind the Gas Station (Posto Dinossauro), then we went until a farm called "Fazenda Paraíso do Criador Gir Mocho". We went through this road until Mr. Cláudio’s farm.
We had told the people who were at the farm what we would do over there. It is something difficult to explain that we are looking for a point that we do not know exactly where it is and how to get there.

By trying to explain it, it is almost impossible not to look like a fool. Although, the people were very nice. They only said: "Some people get weird jobs, ah?"

We had left the cars parked over there, and then started walking. At the farm, the vertical height is 32in above sea level. We started to walk at 11:47AM. As always, the direction, given by the GPS, is above the mountains! We went up 7086in, until we found a small river where we could drink and refresh ourselves.

Almost two hours going up, it was 1:40PM. The GPS kept indicating to go up. In a certain point, there was a swamp where we submerged. Sometimes up to our knees.

Looking back, there was a beautiful view. We could see the valley and the farm where our cars were parked at.

We kept on going. As the GPS indicated, the confluence was 0.62mi away from us, although the hillside was almost like a scarp. We tried to go down, but not succesfully. It was 3:40PM, and if we wanted to come back before night, we would have to give up again and go back. After a democratic vote, the majority decided to continue. Obstinate group! That is why I like them!

We would have to find a better point to go down. We decided to walk to the right. In that direction, the hillside and the top of the mountain were covered by a high wood.

At this point, the already known "ecological knife" took action. We had cut the wood, going down, until we arrived at the bottom. We even discovered a little fall down there.

The GPS indicated the direction of a small lake. Luckily, the confluence was exactly at the border of the lake. We trusted in our mark and took a photograph of the group that participated in this conquest. It was almost night.

We realized that going back through the same way would be harsh, because it is difficult to find a track at night. The valley in which the confluence was located was occupied by small rural properties and several roads. We decided to try a road through which we could go to the other side of the mountain, contouring it.

There was a problem: The confluence is always at a crossing point of four maps. Unfortunately, we only had two of them. The valley was in the area of the maps that we did not have. We went to a small farm, but there was nobody.

Looking at some roads that were near the place that we had parked our cars, we concluded that there must have been a road that could contour the mountain on the left side of it. We started to walk with firm steps. We stopped at another farm in order to ask for some information. The owner said that the road would contour the mountain. We had walked until 9:18PM, when a truck driver gave us S.O. a lift until a track that was over the mountain.

The truck was like a walking bomb. It ran on gas and the driver was smoking! As God helps the walkers, the driver had indicated to us the track we should go up until we reached Mr. Pico’s house, where we could get new information about the way back.

The track was full of insects.

When we arrived at Mr. Pico’s house, it was 9:30PM. We called him insistently. He indicated us the way back, and there we went, followed by his dog. We could have easily gone to the top of the mountain and found a road, but it would go in a different direction from one of the cars. We had to cut the wood again.

It was almost 1:00AM when we arrived at a dense wood. It was already known by the amount of poisonous snakes and full of thorns. We were really tired and mad, too. The land was very steep and, according to the GPS, we were 0.62mi far from there. We were almost there, although we were advancing 39.37in per minute.

There was another vote to decide if we would sleep there in the woods or if we would keep on going. The majority decided to go, again. As a last try, the "ecological knife" took action again. Only Fábio wanted to go through an inclined land full of insects and snakes. I am out of it.

A bit over 2 o’clock in the morning, we arrived at the board of a muddy river. I do not know why, but nobody wanted to cross over it. One hour before we were in a swampy camp full of snakes, and nobody gave it attention. Suddenly, Fábio disappeared. He has fell down in a puddle of water, but we quickly pulled him out of it.

In front of us, there were some black pigs. They seemed like jaguars waiting for us. Since we were already wet, why couldn't we cross over that muddy river? We crossed over it and arrived at the main farm at 2:15AM. We changed clothes, then we went away as silently as possible. Or else we would disturb the people from the farm. I use this moment to apologize to them, because they must have been worried about us.

We were exhausted, hungry and thirsty. So, we stopped at Pirenópolis in order to eat and drink, and then we came back home. Fábio, Evangelos and Kelly could even go to Rinaldo and Stephânia’s farm, which is located in Olhos d’água.
We (Deise, Melissa and I) had to come back as somnambulists by the road, until we arrived at Brasília.

But the conquest of one more confluence compensates all this effort! Our thanks to all the people who have gone and to the people of Mr. Cláudio’s farm.
Thanks God we will not need to come back to explain that we are those crazy people who has gotten lost for two times and who want to arrive at an unknown place to take one photograph and come back! Hospice for sure!